Avoiding muddy lawn

Hi,

I have clay soil and there is a section of my lawn that doesn't get enough sun and it is a high traffic area. Even though I aerated it recently, I can see mud forming already.

Would it help if I aerated again, but this time added sharp sand? Or would the combination of clay + sand make things worse?

Any other ideas? I just want to avoid the area turning into full on mud during the winter..

Thank you.

 

As it's a high-traffic area, I think it will always get compacted when it's dry and muddy when it's wet. You might be better off making a path there, or setting in some stepping stones.

 

Thanks @JennyJB

It's a great idea but sadly I don't think it would suit that specific area considering the layout of the garden. I did do that to a different area that used to be even worse, and it worked great.

Sometimes I am tempted by the idea of taking the lawn out completely and replacing with gravel with small areas of planting.. But during the warm months it does look good and I don't think the dog would appreciate the gravel..

 

At our old house, we had two back lawns on a three tiered garden. Both were higher than the patio, both were on heavy clay soil, both were always in the shade of the house ( being to the North ) and both stayed wet almost all year round. Even in June or July, the lower lawn was often too soft to walk on. Being tiered, it was also a pain to get the mower up the steps.

In the end, we pulled both lawns out and put plastic grass down, over hardcore on the lower lawn and that playground foam flooring under the upper lawn. From then on, they were wet a little while after it rained, but drained quickly. In the winter, my daughter could go out and make snowmen, getting a bit wet, but never muddy.

That worked for us, but it was expensive. I think without some form of path, or extensive excavations and drainage added, a clay lawn is always going to stay wet a long time.

 

Thanks @ArmyAirForce That does sound practical but personally I am not a fan of plastic lawn for my own garden.

According to the Internet, as I suspected, gravel is not very good for dogs, so that idea is out the door. I don't know if compacted gravel might be different but I am sceptical.

It sounds like I basically have to put up with the situation. And next year, perhaps I should consider taking out the lawn, amending the soil to improve drainage and then reseeding.

 

Can you post up a picture, as it might inspire some solutions, once we know the layout?

 

Of course. Thank you.

These photos do make me a bit conscious of all the things I HAVEN'T managed to do e.g. repainting fencing, straightening stepping stones, clearing bits and pieces.. But I am sure a lot of people can relate to that

I added a yellow highlight, a bit like a cloud, to the problem area.

The back gate is behind those misaligned stepping stones

Cheers.

 

Just a random thought, but what about getting some of that plastic mesh that is meant to contain gravel pathways. It could be used as a temporary walkway over the winter, while the lawn is at its wettest and packed away in the shed or garage when it dries out. The grass can poke through it and still get light, so the lawn shouldn't die, but it will spread your weight and lift your feet out of the mud.

Okay, so it won't look fantastic, but it might work as a temporary option in the worst periods and could easily be lifted and stored. No heavy digging either!

 

Thank you. I think that's a very good idea for when things get worse!

 

The problem is that you can't walk around the garden without walking on the grass! I don't think it's possible to avoid it getting muddy in wet weather, although spiking it frequently to reduce the inevitable compaction will help a little. Longer term, if it were mine I'd be looking at a redesign so that the paths go where you need to walk, although the dog might prefer to run on the grass whatever you do.